peter & cora } { of second thoughts and breaking the news

[impetere]

Isaac: [is awake, flopped out on the couch watching the television since he doesn't have work today]

Cora: [makes her way in, wet hair pulled up in a bun on her head and she gives him a smile as she comes in] Hey, Isaac.

Isaac: Hello, Cora still wearing her same clothes as last night.

Cora: It was late and Stiles helped me clean up at the bar. We were going to be up for a while so I crashed at his place.

Isaac: I didn't know Stiles was in town. [and that is the trying not to look jealous judgy look]

Cora: [yeah, she knows that look] He came back just for last night. He's leaving today.

Isaac: Ah, good.

Cora: Good?

Isaac: Yeah. He likes his job. Good he's going back to it.

Cora: Isaac.

Isaac: [rolls his eyes back from the TV to her] Yeah?

Cora: What's going on?

Isaac: Nothing. Just watching Jerry Springer.

Cora: That's not what I meant and you know it.

Isaac: I don't know what you're talking about.

Cora: [and there's that alpha stare. you really want to tell her that?]

Isaac: [and he will lower his gaze]

Cora: What's bothering you?

Isaac: Just... this guy left you and Scott to go off and do his own thing. He left all of you, and you welcome him back like he's some kind of rockstar. You don't leave your pack. Yet he did it and you reward him.

Cora: [she shakes her head] That's not what it is, Isaac. He didn't abandon us. He's wanted to join the Air Force since he was a kid.

Isaac: Yeah, fine. But you don't see him coming back. Not really. He's going off and he's going to what, NASA? That means he isn't coming back.

Cora: That doesn't make him any less our friend or any less important to us.

Isaac: No, but it also means you can't have what you want either, and you're only going to get yourself hurt.

Cora: What do you mean I can't have what I want?

Isaac: You know what I mean.

Cora: [she watches him for a moment, before sighing as she goes to sit on the couch next to him] But NASA is what he wants and will make him happy. I'm not going to ask him to abandon that before he even tries - that's not fair either.

Isaac: No, but he's going to feel it anyway.

Cora: Feel what?

Isaac: Having to choose. [goes to stand up] Between you, or Space. Because we both know he can't have both.

Cora: How do you know he can't?

Isaac: You willing to move us all to Texas?

Cora: Not right now, but space doesn't last forever either.

Isaac: I just don't want to see you get hurt. Or Scott end up in the middle.

Cora: And why are you so sure that's going to happen?

Isaac: Because it's Stiles. He's never satisfied with what he has.

Cora: How do you know?

Isaac: I remember him from High School too, you know. Before I was a part of the pack. Always trying to one up, trying to bend rules and put himself in the place where he's innocent or winning.

Cora: And you don't think he might have grown up a little since then?

Isaac: Nope.

Cora: Well, maybe you should get to know him now a little more before you jump to any conclusions.

Isaac: And keep smelling you guys on each other? Nah, I've got better things to do with my time.

Cora: [she sighs] Whether he goes to space or not, whether Stiles and I work or not, he's always going to be a part of my life, Isaac. You're going to have to get used to him.

Isaac: I can get used to him. Doesn't mean I have to know him or like him. [and he's going to shut off the TV and stand up, heading for the door]

Cora: [and she will sigh as she lets him go for now, flopping back against the couch with a sigh]

Scott: [coming in because he had taken Kira out for an amazing evening and gotten them a hotel room so he's just coming home] Hey Cora.

Cora: Hey. [sighs] I think we might wind up with a problem with Isaac and Stiles.

Scott: Oh? What kind of problem?

Cora: Isaac doesn't trust him, and he's worried about him abandoning us for space.

Scott: Well, Isaac doesn't really know him that much. But Stiles is focused on Space, and if he keeps following that path, he's going to. I've already kinda come to terms with that he's going to end up leaving us for NASA and we'll only see him at holidays and over Skype.

Cora: But that doesn't mean he's gone forever.

Scott: No, but most astronauts stay with the program for their lives. Missions, and then trainers, and it's a commitment. Kinda like marriage.

Cora: I know. [and then she's quiet for a moment before she shakes her head]

Scott: [goes to sit across from her] What's wrong?

Cora: [she looks up at him and she sighs] Stiles and I .... may have hooked up last night.

Scott: [blinks, and just...] You... what?

Cora: [she buries her face in her hands] Yeah.

Scott: [rubs the back of his neck] Well that's.... um... huh.

Cora: It just ... happened, but it was more than that at the same time.

Scott: How so?

Cora: It felt like more.

Scott: Like wanting more or just that he's better in bed than Isaac?

Cora: [and there's a look at that last bit because ew Scott] It felt ... right.

Scott: Like, you want to be with him right?

Cora: Yeah.

Scott: [sighs] Did you tell him that?

Cora: Sort of?

Scott: Sort of?

Cora: We didn't decide to be boyfriend and girlfriend or anything like that but he didn't make it seem like it was over, either.

Scott: Well, he did have a crush on you once. I thought he was over it a long time ago.

Cora: He thought I didn't feel the same way.

Scott: He only told me after he gave up. He thought for a while you were into me.

Cora: Yeah, he told me that too.

Scott: Cora... what are you wanting to do?

Cora: I ... I don't know. I don't want to stop him from going to NASA.

Scott: But it also means that one, or both of you, are going to get hurt if you keep going. Space is going to be the ultimate attempt at a long distance relationship.

Cora: We don't even know where this is going.

Scott: But it's going somewhere.

Cora: Maybe. And we have a few months to figure it out before he leaves.

Scott: And then what?

Cora: Then ... handle whatever the fallout is?

Scott: Yeah. I'm not all that looking forward to that part, you realize.

Cora: I won't make you choose a side. [she's very firm on that, and it's very okay if Scott decides to be Team Stiles] But I want to see where this goes. And if I don't try it now, then when? After space and he moves there for good?

Scott: I don't know, Cora. I just don't want you guys getting hurt.

Cora: I know. But sometimes ... that's not the kind of thing you can avoid, you know?

Scott: [sighs] Yeah, I know.

Cora: I think we'll be okay.

Scott: I hope so.

Cora: Me too.

Scott: [shakes his head] You and Stiles. Never thought I'd see that.

Cora: Really?

Scott: Yeah. He was more the one I thought would threaten to missile any guy who tried to hurt you.

Cora: Guess things change.

Scott: Guess so.

Cora: Not in a bad way, though. At least, I don't think so.

Scott: [nods] Well, I hate to break up this conversation, but I need to get a shower and go to work.

Cora: [she nods] Yeah, go. Have fun with the puppies. I'll try and spend some time with Simba today.

Scott: Alright. [and he is going to escape this awkward conversation quickly]

Cora: [yep, sorry, and she's going to text Stiles to warn him that Scott knows]

Stiles: [and he's having coffee with his Dad at the coffee shop and tries not to choke on his coffee] Good news travels fast?

Cora: Something like that.

Stiles: How bad did it go?

Cora: Not bad, but weird. He's worried about one or both of us getting hurt.

Stiles: Yeah, I can see that. [is now getting a text from Scott with a WHAT THE HELL?!]

Cora: Sorry?

Stiles: Sorry I'm leaving you to deal with all of this.

Cora: It's okay. We'll figure it out.

Stiles: So when am I going to see you again?

Cora: I don't know. When are you free next?

Stiles: I have six days on, and then a twelve hour, and then six days on and then a 24. It goes on like that until Memorial Day.

Cora: Your next 24 then?

Stiles: Sure. You want me to come there, or you come here?

Cora: Might be easier for me to go there. Less outright judgement.

Stiles: Well, there's not a lot out here, but there's a truck stop with a really good diner and there's a motel there. Some of the guys go there to meet with their girlfriends and say it's not horrible.

Cora: We could also always meet in the middle.

Stiles: We could...

Cora: Maybe there's a nicer hotel that's out of the way somewhere? I mean, I don't care what we do. I just want to be with you.

Stiles: We can probably find something in Barstow. That's about halfway...

Cora: Works for me. I have a car so I can drive, no problem.

Stiles: Alright. We can figure it out as time gets closer.

Cora: Sounds good.

Stiles: I better go before my Dad wants to know what's up.

Cora: Okay. I'll see you later.